Sports

Norwegian heroes

Sonja Henie (1912-1969) achieved international fame through her three Olympic gold medals, ten World Championships and six European championships in figure skating. Henie was made a Knight of St. Olav in 1937. She participated in numerous international figure skating shows and several American skating movies. By many, she is considered to be the most famous Norwegian woman throughout history. She has also received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. During the height of her film career, she was one of America's most popular actresses. Along with her third husband, shipping magnate Niels Onstad, she established the Henie-Onstad Art Centre in Oslo. Only 14 months after the opening of the centre, she died of leukaemia on board a plane on her way home from Paris.